Miss Route 66 travels her namesake November 30, 2006
Posted by Ron in People, Road trips.1 comment so far
Kara Knudsen, 18, of Norco, Calif., was crowned Miss Route 66 for 2006-07 at a pageant in Barstow a while back.
To her credit, she’s been traveling the road that provides her title, according to the Winslow (Ariz.) Mail:
She and her grandfather, Robert Knudsen, 75, have been travelling their favorite road eastbound for some time; visiting the historic sites, meeting people and collecting souvenir pins along this stretch. They stopped in Winslow last week to stay for a few days while traveling around to see local sights and visits friends in the area while staying around to participate in the Winslow Christmas Parade.
She’s also trying to promote the pageant so that other towns along the route create their own pageant, and it event becomes a nationwide event “to promote the 66 history and culture.”
Oscar lobbying begins for “Cars” November 30, 2006
Posted by Ron in Movies.add a comment
Buena Vista Pictures has put up a Web site to woo the Academy of Motion Pictures to nominate several of its films for Academy Awards.
One of the movies Buena Vista is hoping will get Oscar nods is “Cars.” It’s lobbying for these nominations:
- Best Animated Feature
- Best Original Screenplay
- Best Film Editing
- Best Score
- Best Sound Mixing
- Best Original Song — “Our Town” or “Lose Yourself”
Bet the farm on the nomination for animated feature. Pixar, which made “Cars,” typically has a lock on it.
Nominations for best song and best score seem reasonably certain because previous Oscar winner Randy Newman is involved in both.
It’s difficult to predict whether “Cars” is in the running for best editing and best sound mixing. Pixar did both things well, but it’s hard to tell what it’s up against.
I don’t think a Best Screenplay nod is likely. It’s mostly a pedestrian plot. One of the strengths of “Cars” is its subtlety and heart, not a snappy script.
So “Cars” will likely get three Oscar nominations, with an outside shot at five. I don’t see it running the table for the six it wants.
Nominations will be announced on Jan. 23. The 79th annual Academy Awards will be at 7 p.m. CST Feb. 25, on ABC-TV.
(Hat tip to Upcoming Pixar.)
